U.S. patent application number 10/827650 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-27 for cushioned strap.
This patent application is currently assigned to Maidenform, Inc.. Invention is credited to Izcoa, Alba.
Application Number | 20050020184 10/827650 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34083033 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050020184 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Izcoa, Alba |
January 27, 2005 |
Cushioned strap
Abstract
A cushioned strap, comprising: a cushion member, including: a
first, substantially flat, film, having a length and width; a
second film having a plurality of contours, such that, when the
second film and the first film are securely affixed to one another
along a common length and width, encapsulated areas are formed
between the first and second layers; a gel disposed between the
first and second films, including within the encapsulated areas;
and gel communication structures adapted to permit the gel to
communicatively flow between and among selected ones of the
encapsulated areas. An outer strap member, within which the cushion
member is provided, includes: a first layer; and a second layer
laminated to the first layer to form a pocket, the pocket enclosing
the cushion member and the first and second layers being laminated
to one another to securely to conform substantially to contours of
the cushion member.
Inventors: |
Izcoa, Alba; (Bayonne,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Dickstein Shapiro Morin & Oshinsky LLP
41st Floor
1177 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10036-2714
US
|
Assignee: |
Maidenform, Inc.
Bayonne
NJ
|
Family ID: |
34083033 |
Appl. No.: |
10/827650 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60463721 |
Apr 18, 2003 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
450/86 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41C 3/12 20130101; A41F
15/007 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
450/086 |
International
Class: |
A41C 003/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cushioned strap, comprising: (a) a cushion member, including:
a first, substantially flat, film, having a length and width; a
second film having a plurality of contours, such that, when the
second film and the first film are securely affixed to one another
along a common length and width, encapsulated areas are formed
between the first and second layers; a gel disposed between the
first and second films, including within the encapsulated areas;
and gel communication structures adapted to permit the gel to
communicatively flow between and among selected ones of the
encapsulated areas; and (b) an outer strap member within which the
cushion member is provided, the outer strap member including: a
first layer; and a second layer laminated to the first layer to
form a pocket therebetween, the pocket enclosing the cushion
member, and the first and second layers being laminated to one
another so as to conform substantially to contours of the cushion
member.
2. The strap according to claim 1, wherein the gel is a gel that
changes viscosity with temperature.
3. The strap according to claim 1, wherein the first and second
films of the cushion member are plastic films affixed to one
another by lamination.
4. The strap according to claim 1, wherein the gel communication
structures comprise channels connecting selected ones of the
encapsulated areas.
5. The strap according to claim 1, wherein the strap is a shoulder
strap for a brassiere and the communicative flow between and among
selected ones of the encapsulated areas is initiated by the strap
contacting the shoulder of a wearer of the brassiere.
6. The strap according to claim 1, wherein the first and second
layers are fabric layers.
7. A cushion member for a cushioned strap that includes an outer
strap member within which the cushion member is located, the
cushion member comprising: a first, substantially flat, film,
having a length and width; a second film having a plurality of
contours, such that, when the second film and the first film are
securely affixed to one another along a common length and width,
encapsulated areas are formed between the first and second layers;
a liquid disposed between the first and second films, including
within the encapsulated areas; and liquid communication structures
adapted to permit the liquid to communicatively flow between and
among selected ones of the encapsulated areas.
8. The cushion member according to claim 7, wherein the liquid is a
gel that changes viscosity with temperature.
9. The cushion member according to claim 7, wherein the first and
second films of the cushion member are plastic films affixed to one
another by lamination.
10. The cushion member according to claim 7, wherein the liquid
communication structures comprise channels connecting selected ones
of the encapsulated areas.
11. The cushion member according to claim 7, wherein the strap is a
shoulder strap for a brassiere and the communicative flow between
and among selected ones of the encapsulated areas is initiated by
the strap contacting the shoulder of a wearer of the brassiere.
12. A cushion, comprising: a cushion member including: fluid-filled
open chambers distributed throughout the cushion member; and
channels connecting at least some of the open chambers to one
another so that fluid can move between the open chambers.
13. The cushion according to claim 12, wherein the fluid is a
gel.
14. The cushion according to claim 13, wherein the gel is a gel
that changes viscosity with temperature.
15. The cushion according to claim 13, wherein substantially all of
the open chambers are connected to at least one other open
chamber.
16. The cushion according to claim 13, wherein at least 90% of the
open chambers are connected to at least one other chamber.
17. The cushion according to claim 13, wherein the cushion forms
part of a shoulder strap for a brassiere.
18. The cushion according to claim 13, wherein the cushion is
covered on at least one side by a fabric.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/463,721, filed Apr. 18, 2003, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates generally to a cushioned
shoulder strap. More particularly, the present invention relates to
a shoulder strap for a brassiere that is provided with a cushioning
and comfort-inducing structure to provide comfort and support to
the user of the brassiere.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] It is well known that brassiere shoulder straps may cause
discomfort to the shoulder of the wearer. In particular, the strap
may dig into the shoulder. This is a particular problem for
full-figured women.
[0006] In attempting to relieve this discomfort, the use of
shoulder pads of cotton or foam rubber, interposed between the
strap and the wearer's shoulder, has been proposed. However, such
pads have proven to be inconvenient since they have a tendency to
become disengaged from, or shift position on, the shoulder
strap.
[0007] More recently, there has been proposed the use of gel filled
compartments in the shoulder strap. However, such compartments,
once sealed with the gel therein, maintain their original filled
shape and thus do not tend to conform to the contours of the
shoulder of the wearer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a cushioned shoulder strap that allows for transference of
gel between plural gel-filled compartments, the transference being
caused by contact with and pressure from the contours of the
shoulder of the wearer, to allow for a comfortable and therapeutic
massage while wearing the garment.
[0009] In a particular embodiment, the shoulder strap includes a
cushioning member including a flat first layer and a second layer
adhered to the first layer. The second layer includes plural
encapsulated areas, at least some of which are connected to one
another, and each of which includes a gel, or other fluid or
liquid, disposed therein. The movement of the gel between and among
the compartments is effected by the connections between the
compartments to provide comfort and a therapeutic massage to the
wearer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] For the purposes of illustrating the present invention,
there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred,
it being understood however, that the invention is not limited to
the precise form shown by the drawing in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a strap in accordance with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the strap illustrated in
FIG. 1 taken across line 2-2; and
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a brassiere having a
cushioned shoulder strap in accordance with the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] A preferred embodiment of the shoulder strap of the present
invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1
is a plan view of the side of a strap 10 that contacts the shoulder
of the user. As seen from the figures, in a preferred embodiment,
the strap 10 is substantially flat and tapered at two ends thereof.
The strap 10 is provided with hemispherical protrusions or bumps
12, each of which deviates from the generally planar surface of the
strap between the bumps 12.
[0015] When used in a brassiere, the end portions of the cushioned
strap of the present invention preferably continue and connect with
the top of the cup of the brassiere and with the back of the
brassiere, in a well-known manner, as illustrated by way of example
in FIG. 3. Brassiere straps extend vertically from the back of the
brassiere, horizontally across the shoulder of the user, and then
vertically to connect at or near the cup portion of the
brassiere.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, along lines 2-2, of the
strap 10 of FIG. 1. As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, the strap 10
is preferably of a multilayer construction. Outer fabric layers 14a
and 14b are configured in relation to one another to form a space
therebetween. In that space, a cushion member is provided. Films
16a and 16b, preferably of plastic, are laminated together to form
the cushion member. Film 16a is a substantially flat film, while
film 16b is formed so as to have preferably generally hemispherical
concavities on the side facing the first film so as to form bumps
or protrusions 12 on the outer side of the portion of the cushion
member formed by the film 16b. When laminated together, the films
form therebetween encapsulated compartments 18 at the bumps.
[0017] In the preferred embodiment, the compartments 18 are filled
with a gel or other liquid or fluid ("liquid" and "fluid" being
used interchangeably throughout this application) to provide, among
other things, cushioning for the shoulder. The films 16a and 16b
are preferably constructed so as to form, when laminated together,
connecting channels 19 between the compartments 18. This can be
effected in any known manner of molding plastic films, for example
by forming channels connecting the concavities in the plastic film
16b. These channels allow the gel or liquid to migrate between
compartments 18 upon application of pressure, such as occurs when
the strap contacts the shoulder of the wearer.
[0018] In the illustrated embodiment, each of the encapsulated
compartments 18 is connected to at least one other encapsulated
compartment 18. However, it is not necessary for every compartment
18 to be connected to another compartment 18. To allow for the
maximum effect of the flow of gel between compartments, it is
preferable that most of the compartments 18 be connected to at
least one other compartment 18. It is highly preferable that 90% or
more compartments be so connected.
[0019] In the preferred embodiment, the outer fabric layers 14a and
14b are themselves laminated together to form an outer strap member
that securely encloses the cushion member formed by the laminated
films. Specifically, the fabric layer 14b is laminated so as to
closely and tightly conform to the contour of the bumps formed by
the compartments of the cushion member held within the outer strap
member, so that even when the cushion member is securely enclosed
between the fabric layers, the wearer will feel the bumps, instead
of only a flat surface.
[0020] The gel used in the compartments 18 of cushion member is
preferably a "smart" gel that changes viscosity with temperature,
such as Morph.TM. gel by Foster-Miller, Inc. and Smart Materials,
Inc. Morph.TM. gel is in liquid form when cold and becomes more
viscous when warmed up due to contact with the human body. This
property allows the gel to be liquid until it reaches a
predetermined temperature, after which its viscosity increases
until reaching a desired level of firmness.
[0021] Alternatively, a "dumb" gel may be used instead, which may
be oil, and glycerin and is usually liquid at most temperatures.
Other types of gel may be substituted, such as for example,
silicone gel, as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
The gel, whether "smart" or "dumb," may be inserted into the
encapsulated areas by any known means, such as by injection, either
prior to lamination of the films, or after.
[0022] When the compartments have been filled with the gel and the
films and fabric layers have been laminated to form the shoulder
strap, and the shoulder is within the garment utilizing the strap,
pressure applied on the strap caused by contact with the shoulder
will permit gel to flow between the compartments in the cushion
member to conform the shape of the cushion member to the contours
of the wearer's shoulder. Moreover, in the preferred embodiment,
the Morph.TM. gel gradually becomes more viscous from contact with
the body heat of the wearer, so that the form fit caused by contact
with the shoulder will be maintained.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a brassiere equipped with the cushioned
shoulder strap of the present invention. As shown in the figure,
the shoulder strap 10 is attached to the front and back of the
brassiere so as to fit over the shoulders of the wearer of the
garment. The strap 10 is attached preferably with the side having
the bumps facing down, so that the bumps contact the shoulder of
the wearer, the bumps and the gel provided therein providing a
cushioning and messaging effect to the shoulder, and the contact
with the shoulder permitting the gel to move between the
encapsulated areas via the channels.
[0024] While the present application has been described in the
context of a brassiere shoulder strap, the invention is not limited
to this application. The advantageous features of the cushioned
strap of the present invention may be applied to any type of
shoulder or other strap in which comfort is desired. For example,
the cushioned strap of the present invention could be used in
backpack shoulder straps, or shoulder straps for side-carry bags,
or other types of carrying bags. It can also be used, for example,
on shoe straps or other areas where cushioning is desired.
Moreover, the strap of the present invention can be used for sports
applications and music applications, for example in guitar shoulder
straps.
[0025] Further, while the pattern of connection of the channels is
shown in the preferred embodiment to be a grid-like pattern, the
invention is in no way limited to this exemplary embodiment. The
pattern of the channels may instead be other ordered patterns or
random patterns. Further, while in the illustrated embodiment
connection channels connect adjacent encapsulated areas, the
connections may include connections to more remotely located
encapsulated areas. Moreover, while the cushion member is shown in
the illustrated embodiment as being constructed of two layers, the
present invention is not limited to this configuration. The cushion
member could instead, for example, be integrally formed, for
example by molding, so as to have encapsulated regions and
connective channels integrally formed therein, without using
laminated films. The scope of the invention is limited only by the
claims appended hereto
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